The BariNation Podcast

Summer is here, and so is every barbecue, pool party, and 4th of July spread your family could throw at you. No judgment. We're gonna talk about all of it.April and Nat are back together for a real one, a summer celebration episode built around the four BariNation pillars: movement, mindset, metabolic wellness, and community. They're sharing how they personally live these pillars when routines go out the window, the weather gets hot, and the paper plates get absolutely massive.This one is for you whether you're six weeks post-op or six years out. Because bariatric life doesn't take a summer break, but it absolutely can feel like a party.What we get into:MOVEMENT: Why movement does not have to mean the gym, and how painting rocks, kayaking for the first time, and water balloon fights with your niece absolutely count. Nat shares how she's getting back to exploring outdoors after a really hard school year, and April talks about finally being able to show up at the lake without dreading every moment.MINDSET: The brain gremlins don't stop just because it's summer. Nat (almost six years post-op!) gets real about still dealing with "what are people thinking about my plate" anxiety at social events. April walks through the "catch it, check it, change it" tool, a practical mindset skill from BariNation's licensed mental health support groups, and why the goal is never to stop having these thoughts, just to get better at catching them.METABOLIC WELLNESS: Summer food is protein city if you think about it — burgers, ribs, brats. You're already set up. April and Nat talk about the plate size swap that changed everything at Nat's 4th of July prime rib dinner (yes, really), how to set up a buffet table so you naturally eat in the right order, and why 10 BBQ meals out of 400 summer eating occasions is not the thing that derails you.COMMUNITY: Why the BariNation membership community is becoming both April and Nat's go-to over social media feeds packed with ads and AI content. Real humans, zero algorithm, no one selling you something. Plus, April is launching a summer Whole Food Learning series in the community every Tuesday night with experts and registered dietitians.AND THE BIG NEWS: BariNation is officially becoming the BariNation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as of July 1, 2026. That means the podcast is now a foundation production, your support is 100% tax-deductible, AND the BariNation membership community is dropping from $39/month to $19/month. Less than a dollar a day. We are not calm about this.Links:Join the BariNation Community: https://barination.mn.co/plans/1983996?bundle_token=403d003e4d6e5c649341e4319c80a3d8&utm_source=manualBariNation Community Calender: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=cqvlhco5fdmkk0lsuasl7ggdu88emhuc%40import.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FLos_AngelesDonate to the BariNation Foundation: https://barination.givecloud.co/fundraising/forms/8NDR96EKFollow April: @actively_aprilFollow Natalie: @breakingbari_ersFollow BariNation on Instagram: @bari.nationFollow BariNation on Facebook: @barinationGet our weekly newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/O2S7vlTVisit our website: www.barination.org

Your metabolism is not broken. It just might need a new strategy.If you've had bariatric surgery (or started a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Mounjaro) and you've hit a wall, struggled with cravings, felt like you can't go more than two hours without eating, or watched the scale stop moving entirely, this episode is for you.Registered dietitian and certified personal trainer Kayla Girgen, RD, CPT is back, and she's here to explain one of the most talked-about, least understood topics in the metabolic health space: metabolic flexibility. What it is, why it matters after weight loss surgery, and what you can actually do about it starting today.In this episode, we cover:What metabolic flexibility actually means (in plain, real-person language)The interstate traffic analogy that makes insulin resistance finally make senseWhy insulin resistance can make it nearly impossible to lose weight and how the disease of obesity is directly connectedThe difference between being metabolically flexible vs. stuck in what researchers call "metabolic gridlock"How movement, even a short walk after a meal, can bypass insulin resistance and get your metabolism moving againWhy sleep is one of the most unsexy, underrated tools for improving metabolic healthWhether a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) is worth it, and what you can do to balance your blood sugar if one isn't in your budgetA real community member question about reactive hypoglycemia, weight gain on GLP-1s, and what strength training might do to helpKayla leads live meetups and classes inside the BariNation community every other month. Drop your questions in the comments or send us an email at [email protected] Kayla at @KaylaGirgenRD on Instagram or at KaylaGirgenRD.com.BariNation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more and join the community at barination.org.

Nobody tells you that the hardest part of bariatric surgery isn't the surgery. It's year five, when life is full, and your bariatric brain goes quiet.Jason and Natalie are back for a real, unfiltered catch-up and this one is for every patient who's thought, "I don't even think about it anymore." Because here's the thing: bariatrics doesn't stop asking things of you just because you stopped thinking about it.Jason shares what happened when a routine gym session turned into an ER visit with a heart rate of 29. Yes, 29. And the wake-up call that followed: a medication he'd been on for years was quietly working against him, because his body had changed so dramatically that the prescription he was given as a very different person no longer fit the person he is now. A physician told him he needed a pacemaker. Another told him to go home and stop taking one pill. The lesson in between? You are a patient for life, not just for the first two years.Natalie opens up about something a lot of long-term post-op patients feel but rarely say out loud: the guilt of not wanting to check in with the bariatric community anymore. Five years out, thriving in a new career as a teacher, and hitting the wall where bariatric life just isn't at the front of the line every single day. She calls it the "I just can't" season, and she wants you to know it's real, it's normal, and it doesn't mean you've failed.Together they get into:Why your medications may need to change years after surgery (and why nobody is checking unless you ask)What "white coat syndrome" (a fear or anxiety around doctors and medical settings) looks like for people who've been heavy patients, and why it doesn't go away just because things are going wellThe difference between pre-op and post-op body literacy: knowing the difference between "I feel fine" and "I actually feel good"Why wins in the bariatric journey don't always look like the scale movingWhat it means to be a patient "forever" and how to hold that truth without burning outHow bariatrics keeps handing you new lessons whether you asked for them or not (Jason's new analogy: an advent calendar of epiphanies that never ends)This episode is also a love letter to BariNation itself. While April is at ASMBS (the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the largest professional organization in the field), big things are happening behind the scenes in the world of obesity treatment. The conversation is shifting. Patients are being centered. The gap between doctors and patients is getting a lot of attention, and BariNation is right in the middle of that work.If you've ever been years out and felt like bariatric life snuck up behind you, this is your episode.Want to be one of the first to know about our exciting, upcoming changes? Join our email list! Click HERE to join. And we promise- no spam, ever!BariNation is now officially a nonprofit foundation. If this podcast, this community, or this conversation has ever helped you, consider supporting the mission at BariNation.org. Every dollar keeps the lights on and the mic hot. Become a donor at www.barination.orgFind us everywhere: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and the BariNation Community at BariNation.org.

You've been fighting your weight for years. You've tried everything. And now you're finally ready to find someone who can actually help. Where do you start? Your primary care doctor? The websites that offer you another miracle? Should you do what Serena Williams is doing and see a bot doc?In this episode, April sits down with Dr. Charles Thompson, a bariatric surgeon practicing in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, to give you a real, practical roadmap for finding an obesity medicine provider who will treat you like the whole person you are, not just a number on a scale.Here's what you'll walk away with:What to actually look for when evaluating a provider (hint: it's not the letters after their name)Where to search, including which websites are worth your time and which ones to approach with cautionWhat to ask at your very first appointment, and why the best providers will ask you questions firstWhy it is absolutely okay to leave a provider relationship that isn't working for you, and why that is not a failureDr. Thompson also breaks down the real difference between having insurance coverage for bariatric surgery or obesity medications and actually being able to use it, including why so many patients with qualifying conditions are still being denied care and what you can do to fight back.You'll also hear him say something that almost no surgeon ever says out loud: "It's not your fault." He means it, and he explains exactly why.Plus: April shares the story of her own path to surgery, why word-of-mouth changed everything for her, and why she built BariNation for the exact moments when you need a Nation behind you.Download and print our free step-by-step guide to finding your provider from the show notes. Use it, share it, come back to it. Click HERE to access it.Obesity is a disease. You deserve care. And now you know how to go get it.A Note About BariNationBariNation is a nonprofit podcast and patient community built on the belief that obesity is a disease and that every person fighting it deserves education, community, and care. If this post helped you, consider supporting our mission at BariNation.org/donate. Your support makes conversations like this one possible.Enjoyed this episode? Share it with someone who's been waiting for permission to take the first step. And if you're already in The Nation, you know what to do. See you in there.Find Dr. Thompson: BrooklynQueensSurgical.comJoin the BariNation community: barination.mn.coSupport our mission: BariNation.org/donate#BariNation #BariatricSurgery #ObesityMedicine #ObesityAwareness #WeightLossSurgery#FindABariatricSurgeon #ObesityIsADisease #BariatricCommunity #InsuranceDenial #MetabolicHealth#ASMBS #ObesityTreatment #BariatricProvider #WeightManagement

“We are built for scarcity, not abundance.” Most people think obesity is simply about willpower or lifestyle choices, yet its history reveals a long tradition of misconceptions, stigma, and ineffective, somewhat barbaric treatments. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Nini Peterson, PhD, takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of obesity, showing how misconceptions have persisted for centuries despite advances in science and medicine. Discover how ancient carvings and medical texts from 30,000 years ago to the 19th century reveal haunting echoes of today’s struggles with weight and treatment. You’ll learn how old fallacies, like “eat less, move more,” have hampered progress and how biology, environment, and genetics play critical roles that modern science now understands better than ever.We break down:The historical perceptions of obesity across cultures and eras and their impact on stigma, shame, and treatment.The evolution of treatment options, from ancient dieting and surgical experiments to today's promising medications and surgical innovations.The misconceptions that still influence doctor-patient relationships and how invalidating these myths can be detrimental to health.The importance of a holistic, individualized care team and why finding the right "fit" in treatment is crucial for long-term success.How understanding the disease’s history helps us combat shame, advocate for ourselves, and pursue effective, compassionate care.This episode is a must-listen for anyone living with obesity or those supporting loved ones in their journey. If you’re tired of outdated advice, want to cut through the stigma, and are eager to understand the true complexity of obesity, this conversation will inspire hope and empower action.Join April Williams as she has a no-holds-barred conversation with Dr. Peterson, an experienced psychologist and obesity expert, who reveals how shifting our understanding of obesity from blame to compassion opens the door to better treatment, more support, and a brighter future.You’ll leave with a new perspective on this chronic disease, fostering hope that meaningful change is possible, and it starts with knowledge. Perfect for patients, caregivers, clinicians, and advocates committed to a science-backed, patient-centered approach. The time to rethink obesity is now, are you ready?Explore the rich history of obesity, its treatment evolution, and the importance of personalized care in managing this complex disease.History of Obesity PresentationKey TopicsHistory of obesity and treatmentImpact of environment and culture on obesityThe role of behavioral health in obesity careAdvances in obesity medications and surgeryThe importance of holistic, individualized treatmentThe BariNation FoundationThe BariNation Podcast is a production of the BariNation Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit that advances metabolic wellness for people living with obesity by providing evidence-based education, stigma-free support, and meaningful connections in the moments that shape daily life. The Foundation's mission is to walk alongside individuals pursuing medical, surgical, and comprehensive care, supporting real decisions, challenges, and victories that influence long-term health with the support and guidance of obesity medicine experts.Learn more about the BariNation Foundation and make a tax-deductible donation by going to BariNation.orgSound Bites"We are built for scarcity, not abundance."“Most people overestimate the risk of bariatric surgery and underestimate the risk of living long-term with obesity.”Chapters00:00 The History of Obesity and Its Treatment07:23 Understanding Obesity as a Disease19:54 The Stigma of Obesity and Its Impact26:45 Patient-Care Team Dynamics in Obesity Treatment27:24 Navigating Life After Surgery33:32 The Paradox of Treatment40:15 Evolution of Obesity Treatments42:56 Evolving Understanding of Health and Behavior Change45:45 Redefining Success Beyond the Scale49:44 The Complexity of Health Perception53:17 The Importance of Seeking Help55:51 Understanding the Risks of Obesity and Treatment58:45 The Journey to Bariatric Surgery01:03:34 Finding the Right Care Team01:07:15 The Need for Integrated Health ApproachesNini Peterson BioNinoska "Nini" Peterson, PhD is a Staff Psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric & Metabolic Institute (BMI) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.Her clinical and research interests include psychosocial MBS evaluations, lifestyle treatment of obesity, binge eating treatment, self-monitoring, body-image disturbance, and psychology group treatment/support groups. She has published in peer-reviewed journals on these topics, and has authored/co-authored 3 textbook chapters for SAGES and APA on the role of the behavioral health provider in MBS and pre-surgical psychological MBS evaluations, respectively.She is the current Integrated Health - Director Elect (2025-2026), former Integrated Health Secretary (2024-2025) and has served on the IH Leadership Counsel since 2021. Nini is also a current member (2017-present) and past Chair (2023-2025 of the IH Support Group Committee, and member of the Health Equity Committee (2023-present). She is a proud member of the inaugural 2024 ASMBS-IH Fellowship class (FASMBS-IH).LinksBariNationFoundation